Pan-African Parliament Calls for Coordinated African-Led Action to End Sudan Conflict

MIDRAND, South Africa — The Pan-African Parliament has intensified its engagement with the conflict in Sudan, with two of its Permanent Committees calling for coordinated African-led action to protect civilians, facilitate humanitarian assistance and support a sustainable political resolution of the crisis.

The Committee on Cooperation, International Relations and Conflict Resolution and the Committee on Justice and Human Rights convened a joint sitting to examine the security crisis in Sudan, its humanitarian consequences and the deteriorating human rights situation in the country.

The meeting brought together parliamentarians, conflict-resolution specialists, human rights experts, civil society representatives and Sudanese diplomatic officials to assess the origins and development of the conflict and identify areas in which the Pan-African Parliament could support continental peace efforts.

The Joint Committees received presentations on a Parliamentary Hearing on the Security Crisis in Sudan and its Humanitarian Consequences, as well as a briefing on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Fact-Finding Mission Report on Sudan.

The discussions reflected growing concern about the continuing impact of the war on civilians and the need to strengthen the coordination, credibility and effectiveness of African Union-led mediation.

Sudan Conflict Rooted in Failed Political Transition

Dr Andrews Atta-Asamoah, a specialist in peace, security and governance, delivered a virtual presentation tracing the historical roots of Sudan’s recurring conflicts and the evolution of the present crisis.

He explained that the conflict emerged from tensions surrounding Sudan’s political transition following the removal of former President Omar al-Bashir in 2019.

The transition was intended to move the country towards civilian and democratic government. However, unresolved disputes over political authority, security-sector reform and the integration of armed formations contributed to the breakdown of the transitional arrangement.

Open warfare erupted on 15 April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces, commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

What initially appeared to be a power struggle between rival military formations rapidly expanded into a nationwide conflict involving multiple armed groups, local militias and competing political and regional interests.

Dr Atta-Asamoah examined the spread of hostilities across several regions, the fragmentation of authority and the difficulties created by multiple and sometimes competing mediation initiatives.

He argued that the existence of numerous peace processes without sufficient coordination had weakened diplomatic pressure and made it more difficult to establish a coherent pathway towards ending the conflict.

He therefore called for greater alignment among mediation initiatives and emphasized the African Union’s comparative advantage in supporting an African-led political process.

Such a process, he maintained, should address not only the immediate fighting but also the underlying structural causes of instability, including militarized politics, institutional weakness, social exclusion and the absence of a broadly accepted constitutional order.

War Produces Enormous Humanitarian Emergency

The conflict has resulted in one of the world’s most severe displacement and humanitarian emergencies.

By April 2026, approximately 14 million people had been forced to flee their homes since the beginning of the war, including about nine million people displaced within Sudan and 4.4 million who had crossed into neighbouring countries. The United Nations Refugee Agency described the repeated displacement of families as an exhausting cycle in which civilians are forced to flee from one area of insecurity to another.

The crisis has placed enormous pressure on countries including Chad, South Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya, Uganda and the Central African Republic.

The destruction of homes, hospitals, schools, markets, water facilities and other civilian infrastructure has severely disrupted access to health care, food, education and essential public services.

The Joint Committees heard that a sustainable response must therefore combine immediate humanitarian action with a credible political process capable of ending the violence.

Members were urged to support unrestricted humanitarian access, stronger civilian-protection measures and increased assistance to communities hosting displaced persons and refugees.

Fact-Finding Mission Documents Grave Violations

During the briefing on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Fact-Finding Mission Report, international human rights lawyer Mr. Jürgen Schurr outlined the African Union’s response to the conflict and the mandate of the mission.

The African Commission established the Joint Fact-Finding Mission to investigate allegations of human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law arising from the conflict. The mission was authorized to conduct inquiries within Sudan and in neighbouring countries hosting Sudanese refugees.

Its virtual investigation found that civilians had suffered unlawful killings, indiscriminate attacks, arbitrary detention, torture, destruction of civilian infrastructure and restrictions on humanitarian assistance.

The mission subsequently undertook an on-the-ground investigation in refugee camps in Chad from 19 to 23 January 2026. Its report complemented the earlier virtual inquiry and provided further evidence from people who had fled the conflict.

Mr Schurr highlighted recommendations contained in the African Union and United Nations fact-finding reports, including the protection of civilians and human rights defenders, accountability for violations and support for an inclusive, civilian-led pathway towards peace and democratic governance.

He also drew attention to the Banjul Joint Declaration adopted by the African Commission and the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan.

The Declaration reaffirmed the commitment of both missions to document violations, protect civilians and contribute to peace, justice and accountability. It emphasized that military force and impunity cannot provide a sustainable future for Sudan and that lasting peace must be based on civilian protection, justice and inclusive governance.

Mr Schurr encouraged Members of the Pan-African Parliament to support the implementation of these recommendations and to strengthen parliamentary scrutiny of the continental response to Sudan.

Civilians Bear the Cost of Militarised Politics

Presentations by representatives of the Open Society Foundations examined the political, humanitarian and regional dimensions of the conflict.

The presenters described the crisis as a consequence of Sudan’s deeply militarized political system, in which armed institutions and military leaders have exercised significant influence over government and economic resources.

They argued that the current war cannot be resolved solely by negotiating a temporary arrangement between the two principal military forces.

A durable settlement must also address the concentration of political power in armed institutions, the proliferation of weapons, the involvement of external actors, competition over natural resources and the longstanding exclusion of civilian communities from decision-making.

The presenters highlighted the devastating consequences of the conflict for civilians, particularly women, children, displaced people, human rights defenders and marginalized communities.

The African Commission’s investigations have also documented widespread conflict-related sexual violence. Its reporting indicates that abuses have been committed by parties to the conflict, with the Rapid Support Forces identified as responsible for the majority of the documented cases examined by the mission.

The Open Society Foundations representatives called for an immediate ceasefire, a civilian-led political transition and stronger African Union leadership in the mediation process.

They also advocated enhanced regional cooperation to restrict the flow of arms, reduce external interference, protect civilians and support African-led peace initiatives.

Sudanese Government Pledges Constitutional Restoration

Addressing the Joint Committees, Sudan’s Ambassador to South Africa, H.E. Osman Abufatima Adam Mohammed, reaffirmed the Sudanese Government’s commitment to restoring constitutional order and pursuing peace through an inclusive political process.

He stated that the Government supported accountability for violations, national healing and the broad participation of Sudanese citizens in rebuilding the country.

“Sudan did not choose war or the suffering it brings. The Government is dedicated to restoring constitutional order and pursuing peace through an inclusive political process, emphasizing accountability for violations and national healing,” the Ambassador said.

He appealed for solidarity with the Sudanese people and urged African institutions and governments to strengthen their support for humanitarian action and efforts to restore peace and stability.

The Ambassador’s intervention provided Members with the position of the Sudanese authorities. However, the wider discussions underscored the importance of ensuring that any political process is sufficiently inclusive and protects the interests of civilians rather than merely accommodating competing military and political elites.

Parliamentarians Question Role of External Actors

Members of the Pan-African Parliament questioned the presenters on the constitutional and political situation in Sudan, the involvement of foreign actors and the implementation of African Union decisions.

They also sought clarification on how parliamentarians could strengthen support for mediation, humanitarian relief, civilian protection and accountability.

In response, the presenters stressed the need to uphold the African Union’s principles against unconstitutional changes of government and military interference in democratic political processes.

They also called for the protection of civilians, unhindered access for humanitarian agencies and fact-finding missions and credible investigations into alleged violations.

The discussions highlighted the concern that external military, financial and political support to parties in the conflict could prolong the fighting and undermine African peace efforts.

Regional cooperation was therefore identified as essential to curbing arms transfers, limiting the activities of armed groups and preventing the conflict from further destabilizing neighbouring states.

Calls for Dedicated PAP Session on Sudan

The presenters encouraged the Pan-African Parliament to consider convening a dedicated parliamentary session on Sudan.

Such a session could enable Members to examine the crisis more comprehensively, hear directly from Sudanese civilian groups and regional stakeholders and develop specific parliamentary recommendations for consideration by the relevant African Union institutions.

A dedicated session could also help the Parliament monitor the implementation of decisions of the African Union Peace and Security Council and the recommendations of the African Commission’s Fact-Finding Mission.

The Peace and Security Council is the African Union’s principal decision-making body for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts and forms the central pillar of the African Peace and Security Architecture.

The Pan-African Parliament does not control peace negotiations or military operations. Nevertheless, it can use its deliberative, representative and oversight roles to maintain political attention on Sudan, advocate civilian protection and ensure that the voices of affected communities are reflected in continental policymaking.

It can also work with national and regional parliaments to promote a coordinated African response and discourage actions that fuel the conflict.

Peace Remains the Only Sustainable Solution

Closing the joint sitting, Chairperson of the Committee on Cooperation, International Relations and Conflict Resolution, Hon. Phillipus Wido Katamelo, warned that the human rights violations and humanitarian consequences of the conflict must not be ignored.

He stressed that peace remained the only sustainable solution and called for unity and coordinated African-led action.

The deliberations demonstrated that the Sudan crisis is not solely an internal security dispute. It is a continental humanitarian, human rights and governance emergency with serious implications for regional stability.

For African-led mediation to succeed, the various initiatives must operate within a coherent framework that places civilian protection, humanitarian access and inclusive governance at the centre of the peace process.

There must also be effective accountability for violations. Without justice, institutional reform and the meaningful participation of Sudanese civilians, any ceasefire risks becoming only a temporary pause before another cycle of violence.

The Pan-African Parliament’s Joint Committees have therefore called attention to the need for sustained parliamentary engagement rather than occasional expressions of concern.

Their deliberations and recommendations are expected to contribute to wider continental efforts to end the conflict, protect the Sudanese people and support an inclusive transition towards peace, constitutional order and democratic governance.